Today’s race was odd. The oddness started while I was on my way over to the course; it’s only about two miles over there, so I rode my bike to do some warming up on the way. As I went around a very sharp corner near my house, I crashed. I was riding along fine, and next thing I knew, I’d hit the pavement. I was fine and got up immediately, looking around furtively to see who’d noticed me being an idiot. The only spectator I saw was a guy in a pick-up truck who slowed down to see if I was okay, but as I was so quickly back on my feet, he took off again.
I couldn’t figure out why it happened, except that I’d taken a sharp corner too fast. As my only injury was a scrape on my elbow and a bruise on my hip, I got back on the bike and continued on to the course. I considered not telling anybody and saving a little face. As I rode, I thought to myself, “you don’t deserve to be on a bike, much less race on one!”
But when I got to the course I figured out what the problem was. Black ice. This was odd because the temperature back at home was in the mid-30s, and it hadn’t occurred to me that the roads could be icy when the temperature is above freezing. But the course was covered in black ice too. I felt a little less like an idiot, although I probably still looked like one to the guy in the pick-up. I decided that the crash would actually make a good story, a nice illustration of how awful the roads were.
Because of the ice, the race was delayed an hour and a half, so I ended up spending almost two hours warming up and then waiting, warming up and then waiting, while the race officials figured out what to do. They did a little sweeping and scraping, but mostly they just waited until the sun got high enough to melt everything.
With all that, it’s a wonder the race went decently. I didn’t do as well as I did last week, dropping off the pack a little earlier, but the race was faster this time around, and I think all that warming up and waiting actually tired me out a bit. Mostly I’m grateful I didn’t have another embarrassing meeting with the pavement. There were no crashes in my race, or the Hobgoblin’s, right after mine.
Although I never like crashing, if I have to crash, this is exactly how I’d like it to happen.
Of Books and Bicycles 
Oh Dorothy – I’m so glad nothing worse happened. I do think you are immensely brave to keep going. I would have gone home and sulked, I’m quite sure!!
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Ouch. Our training races haven’t started yet for that very reason plus pockets of snow piles. Still debating if I want to put in the effort to race this year–I usually have a few strenuous club rides under my belt before they start up. How long is each lap on your course?
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Ouch! Glad you are ok. Next race will be better. No more ice by then.
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I hate falling or tripping in front of other people–I always feel like such a fool, but sometimes you just can’t help it. I have noticed that even on mornings that are above freezing there are still slippery patches on the cement, and I am always very adept and finding them!! Glad to hear you didn’t hurt yourself!
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Thanks Litlove. I felt like too much of an idiot to head home and sulk, I’m afraid 🙂
Itchybits, the laps are about 8/10 or 9/10 of a mile, with one hill — it’s fairly short and not steep, but riding up it over and over gets tough. In fact, I find it’s the hill-climbing that messes me up; otherwise I’d be hanging on longer, I think.
Stefanie — let’s hope we have no more ice!
Danielle, thanks, and I’ll certainly be more cautious next time!
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Very glad that injuries were minor. I always feel like a complete twit whenever I trip or fall, worse because it happens when I’m doing every day stuff (like walking) rather than anything particularly sporty or energetic.
Good luck on your next race!
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